It’s been an open secret that the Chicago Bulls have been trying to trade Zach LaVine in the past few months. So far, the team hasn’t found a suitable trade, and the saga continues.
The longer it drags on, the messier it gets for both sides, and Rich Paul has pushed back on people who claim that his client has been “unprofessional” amid his current situation.
“I want to make this clean and clear: This whole idea that Zach has been anything but professional in this situation is false. This guy has played hurt. He has represented the franchise with class,” Paul said via NBC Sports Chicago.
“A lot has taken place during his time with the Bulls and he’s taken the high road every time. Does every player get frustrated at times? Yes. But Zach has been the ultimate professional and deserves better. The Bulls have business to do. And we’re letting them handle their business,” he reiterated.
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To Rich Paul’s point, the Chicago Bulls have done some business this offseason, re-signing Patrick Williams to a five-year extension while trading for Josh Giddey with the Oklahoma City Thunder and adding Jalen Smith on a three-year contract.
Zach LaVine’s 2023-24 campaign with the Chicago Bulls
Zach LaVine is coming off a forgettable 2023-24 campaign, a key reason why he remains on the trading block. This year, the 28-year-old swingman averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game on 45.2 percent shooting from the field, but he only managed to play 25 regular season games.
His season had to come to an abrupt end, as it was announced in February that LaVine would need to undergo surgery to fix his injured right foot.
With the Chicago Bulls seemingly committed to playing the long game, they have reportedly put Nikola Vucevic on the trading block alongside Zach LaVine. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan isn’t expected to re-sign with the team this free agency.
